Ogden’s streak ends, but optimism reigns

It’s the best way to sum up Ogden’s softball revival following three straight losses to open the season.

“It starts a lot when one body buys into it and then everybody starts buying into it,” said Kruse, a senior pitcher. “We realized that if we play as a team and one person starts the fire, then we can all build on it.”

That philosophy was the foundation of a nine-game winning streak, which included resounding victories Friday over Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln and Pleasantville at an event hosted by Woodward-Granger.

“Kids started the season struggling with the bats,” Bulldogs coach Mike Moses said. “Our bats have come to life and most games we have been really hitting the ball nice.

“Winterset is a solid team,” Moses said. “They just hit the heck out of the ball on us. We had some plays out there I’m sure the kids would like back, that we didn’t make.

“That usually spells not a good result.”

The Bulldogs were also edged by Perry, but remained upbeat.

“When we play a bad game, we know what we did wrong and how we can improve on it,” said Kruse, who entered mid-week with a 5-3 pitching record and .486 batting average. “That’s always helpful.”

Ogden’s schedule remains daunting, with a slate of games that features a doubleheader with perennial powerhouse Des Moines Christian on Thursday.

“We’ve just got to keep our confidence up,” Moses said. “Hopefully, (the players) don’t let up. It’s not going to get any easier, that’s for sure. There’s no rest when you’re coaching softball.

“The season is kind of condensed into a month, basically.”

On the back end of this gauntlet is an opportunity to make a splash in the postseason tournaments.

“We definitely have the potential,” Kruse said. “We don’t want to get our hopes too high and we need to be realistic, but we do have goals in mind that we are going to put everything on the line to try and achieve.”